Note: The regions were originally
created on 28 Oct 1956 as "program regions" (régions
de programme). On 2 Jun 1960 they were
upgraded to "circles for regional action" (circonscriptions
d'action régionale). A decree of 14 Mar
1964 created in each region a Regional Economic
Development Commission (Commission de
Développement Économique Régional), which
by an act of 5 Jul 1972 (implementation of which was
initiated 1 Oct 1973) became the Regional Council (Conseil
Régional). At the same time the overseas départements
were given regional status. The first presidents of the
councils were elected between Dec 1973 and Feb 1974. The
powers of the councils were significantly upgraded after
their first direct elections which took place 16 Mar 1986
(in the overseas regions and Corse already 20 Feb 1983). A
major territorial reorganization took place 1 Jan 2016,
reducing the number of regions in metropolitan France from
22 to 13.